Switch-padlock.



H. H. PBRRIS.

SWITCH PADLOGK.

APPLIOATION FILED 1111.27. 1914.

Patented Sept. 29, 1914 www #digg //fms.

WW1/mono y? jb all whom it may concern .UNrTED STATES PATENT onirica.

nanny H. FEnRIs, on HUNTINGTON maken, CALIFORNIA.

SWITCH-nannesz Be it known that I, HARRY H. FERRIS, a citizen of theUnited States, residing at Huntington Beach, in the county of Orange andState of California, have invented lnew and useful Improvements inSwitch-Padlocks, of whichfthe following a specifica-I tion. Thisinvention relates to locks and in particular to a switch lock such as isused for securing a rallroad swltch lever to prevent tampering with theswitch by unauthorized persons. n

At a point Where the tracks of two railroad companies join or intersect,it is neces-v saryto providek means whereby the trainmen of both roadsmay unlock the hand 1ever of a common switch. This, heretofore, has beena difficult proposition, owing to the fact that the trainmen lof eachroad have keys entirely different from the keys finthe possession of theemployees of the other road, owing to the fact that it is desirable touse different makes of locks to prevent the employees of one road fromtampering with switches which they have no right to operate. I haveprovided, therefore, a double lock having two keyholes and a singleshackle constructed so that it may be opened by operating either lock,thereby making it possible for a trainman of either, of the intersectingroads to unfasten the lock with his particular key. l

A further object of 'the invention is to provide a 'lock of thecharacter set forth which is constructed in such a manner that it iscomposed of few parts, which is durable and extremely simple, whereby itmay be positive in operation and not apt to get out of order, which areabsolute prerequisites of a railroad switch lock.

The invention consists in the features of construction, combination andarrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a top plan view of a lock constructed in accordance with theinvention; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation of the same; Fig. 3is a similar view,`showing one of the shackle sections unlocked; and,Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view taken 1ongi tudinally through aportion of the shackle.

In the drawing is shown what now api pears to be the preferredembodiment of the invention, wherein the body or casing 1 ofSpecification of Letters `I'fsltesnt; Application led January 27, 1914.ySerial No. 814,817.

its inner face.

- rammed sept. 29, 1914.

.the lock is segmental in form and is provided medially upon its convexface with an v apertured lug 2, for attachment to the usualloss-preventing chain 3.V Within the b'ody Iand at oneside ofits-center, any desired type of lock mechanism (not shown) is mountedand a keyhole 4 is provided in the front Wall of the body in'conjunction with the said mechanism, whereby a key may be inserted fortheoperation of the same. A cover plate or shield 5 is pivotally mountedupon the outer face of this wall of the body by means of the pivot pin 6in the usual manner for the purpose of covering the key-- hole. Uponthis plate the name of the railroad whose keys' will operate thisportion of the 4lock mechanism is preferably inscribed, for a-purposewhich will appear presently. In the opposite side portion of the body1`a form of lock mechanism (not shown) requiring the use of a differentkey is disposed and is provided with the necessary keyhole 7 and coverplate 8, the latter tions are joined by means of the transverse pivotpin'15 and one of the sections is provided at its pivoted end with a lug16 upon A pin 17 extends laterally from the said lug and' serves tosecure the medial portion of a leaf spring 18 to the said section withits end portions bearing against the inner faces of the respectivesections of th' shackle. This spring is constructed' so that it' isunder tension when both of the shackle sections are locked within thebody openings, whereby the spring is adapted to throw either sectionlinto its outermost inoperative position when the corresponding,

lockmechanism is operated to release its active extremity. Lateralprojections 19 are provided upon the ends of the spring forengagementwithin the recesses 20 provid d in the inner faces of theshackle sectio s,wherby the spring ends are secured againstdisplacement. r i

In order to`make clear the operation and peculiar utility Jof'this lock,we willf assume that its shackle isengaged in the usual manner with thelever of a common switch disposed at the junction of two railroads.lVhen the employee of one of the railroads is required to unlock theswitch lever, he grasps the lock, turns the cover plate bearing thedesignation of his particular railroad into its inoperative position soas to expose the proper keyhole, and by inserting and turning the key,releases the corresponding section of the shackle, whereupon the lockmay be disengaged from the switch lever'to permit operation of thelatter. He may then lock the switch lever securely in a manner which.should be readily understood, without tampering with or operating theother lock mechanism. In like manner, the employee of the other railroadmay readily distinguish and gain access to the keyhole into which hisparticular key maybe fitted for the purpose of operating the other lockmechanism land thus releasing the corresponding shackle quirements ofusage, and Idesire to have it understood that minor changes in the formand arrangement of its parts,vsuchnas fall mto the scope of the appendedclaims, may

v be resorted to in practise if found necessary.

` What I claim is:

1. A lock of the class described comprising a body, a shackle having itsends adapted for engagement with the body and being free from connectiontherewith throughout its intervening length, releasable means forsecuring one end of the shackle to the body, and independently operablemeans for securing the opposite end of the shackle detachably t thebody, each end of the shackle being adapted to be disengaged from thebody without disturbing the other end of the shackle in its engagementwith the body.

2. A lock of the class described comprising a body having a pair ofrelatively spaced openings therein, 'a shackleI including a pair ofpivotally connected sections, each section being adapted to have itsfree extremity engaged within one of the body openings, lock mechanismprovided within said body for operative engagement with the free end ofone shackle section, a second lock mechanism provided within the bodyfor operative association with the free end of the other shacklesection, the said mechanisms being independently operable, and a springconnected with both shackle sections and being adapted to be placedunder tension' when both sections are locked to the body.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature in presence oitwo' witnesses.

HARRY H. FERRIS.

Witnesses:

Lnw H. WALLACE, CHAs. H. WALLACE.

